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Practice Makes Perfect

When I was a young man I worked as a musician. I remember the many hours spent working out fingerings, practicing and practicing until I could play all the notes smoothly, with no mistakes. Then, and only then, I could work on refining the artistry necessary to play the piece as the composer intended. We live today in a culture that expects instant results with instant praise. Practice is a tedium to avoid.

Of course, any discipline, from music to teaching or competent construction work requires time and practice. This is also true spiritually. Familiarity with the Scriptures requires a lot of time reading them. Praying with fluency, ease and confidence comes from regular conversations with the Lord. If all your conversations with friends were requests for help, you’d have a relationship, but probably not a deep one.A panicked prayer is heard by God, but a true sense of conversation with the Lord develops over months and years.

Almost any worthwhile thing in life I can think of takes a lot of time and practice. I can usually predict my wife’s preferences without asking her. Fifty years of sharing makes for deep knowledge and understanding.

Most Christians desire to be closer to God.I encourage you to do more than just listen to Scriptures read in church, or just rely on your pastor’s prayers. Do you want to become a stronger Christian? Begin to take time every day if possible, and at a regular time each day, to read God’s Word and speak with Him.

I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Psalm 145:2